I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4131 

To direct the Chief of Engineers to transfer an archaeological collection, 

commonly referred to as the Kennewick Man or the Ancient One, to 

the Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 30, 2015 

Mr. HECK of Washington (for himself, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mr. 

KILMER, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. COLE, and Mr. KILDEE) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To direct the Chief of Engineers to transfer an archaeological 

collection, commonly referred to as the Kennewick Man 

or the Ancient One, to the Washington State Department 

of Archeology and Historic Preservation. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bring the Ancient One 

5 Home Act of 2015’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF HUMAN REMAINS. 

2 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

3 (1) CLAIMANT TRIBES.—The term ‘‘claimant 

4 tribes’’ means the Indian tribes and band referred to 

5 in the letter from Secretary of the Interior Bruce 

6 Babbitt to Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, re7 lating to the human remains and dated September 

8 21, 2000. 

9 (2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 

10 means the Washington State Department of Archae11 ology and Historic Preservation. 

12 (3) HUMAN REMAINS.—The term ‘‘human re13 mains’’ means the human remains— 

14 (A) that are known as Kennewick Man or 

15 the Ancient One, which includes the projectile 

16 point lodged in the right ilium bone, as well as 

17 any residue from previous sampling and stud18 ies; and 

19 (B) that are part of archaeological collec20 tion number 45BN495. 

21 (b) TRANSFER.—Notwithstanding any other provi22 sion of Federal law or law of the State of Washington, 

23 including the Native American Graves Protection and Re24 patriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), not later than 

25 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec26 retary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, 


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1 shall transfer the human remains to the Department, on 

2 the condition that the Department, acting through the 

3 State Historic Preservation Officer, disposes of the re4 mains and repatriates the remains to claimant tribes. 

5 (c) COST.—The Corps of Engineers shall be respon6 sible for any costs associated with the transfer. 

7 (d) LIMITATIONS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The transfer shall be limited 

9 solely to the human remains portion of the archae10 ological collection. 

11 (2) CORPS OF ENGINEERS.—The Corps of En12 gineers shall have no further responsibility for the 

13 human remains transferred pursuant to subsection 

14 (b) after the date of the transfer. 

Æ 


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